Sanitary device



March 22, 19

HARRIS led une 25, 1937 .5 m m Br, 0 m n 4 D2 If M. r m F .m ma

Patented Mar. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE sanmmr nEvrcr:

Carl D. Harris, Chicago, 111., assignor of thirty percent to James J. Cullen, and thirty percent to Albert G. Dax, bot

Application June 25.

1 Claim. My device is used internally in the vagina during periods of excessive discharge and particularly during menstruation.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide a device adapted to be inserted quickly, with ease, and without irritation to the labium majus and minus and vagina of the user; to create a device in which the applicator substantially immediately breaks down upon insertionso that the inner absorbent member may begin practically at once to function; to supply an inner absorbent member preferably made of long fiber compressed cotton with a triangular shaped stitching, reaching and holding all of the fibers so that upon withdrawal of the inner member no particles are left inthe vaginal tract; to create an absorbent member adapted to spread out in use to assume a substantially oblong shape and cover the vagina just short of the cervix, and thus present well positioned and maximum absorbing surfaces and such other objects, advantages and capabilities as are inherently possessed by my invention.

Referring to the drawing Fig. 1 is aside elevation of my device before use; Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the female anatomy with my device as it appears immediately upon insertion into the-vagina; and Fig. 3 shows a similar view shortly after my device has been inserted and when the inner member has absorbed a discharge from the uterus of the user. Fig. 4 is a detailed view of my inner absorbent member after it has been removed and showing the stitching.

While I have shown herein a preferred form of my invention, I wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, it comprises an outer coating ID of material adapted to immediately begin disintegration upon contact with the heat and moisture of the vagina and to swiftly. proceed to come plete decomposition so as to expose an inner member ll of compressed absorbent material, preferably of long fiber cotton.

In making my device I take a plurality of long cotton fibers and form a substantially fiat, thin, oblong i3. I then stitch a triangle It with the top of the triangle l5 at the top of the oblong with converging lines It extending to meet at the bottom of the oblong. I continue the stitching below the bottom of the oblong iii to form a pull string ll.

My oblong i3 is then compressed and rolled roundedend Iii. The cylinder I8 is dipped in a solution to acquire coating l0,

My solution may be of a number of products, containing such material as gelatine, wax, grease, 60

to form a cylinder I8 having a front bulged cocoa butter, gum, tallow or the like. The soluh of Chicago, Ill.

1937. Serial No. 150,227

tion adheres to cylinder it upon solidification by cooling and will remain in a solid condition before use. My coating is slick and slippery and with the rounded end ill will facilitate entry of the device into the vagina of a user.

Immediately upon entry into the vagina, the heat and moisture of the body of the user will begin to dissolve the coating, and within a few seconds the coating which is preferably thin will have entirely disintegrated, exposing the cylinder for use. The moisture of the users body then operates on the cylinder which is of absorbent material so that it gradually expands to its original oblong shape to occupy practically the entire vagina and efliciently function to a maximum degree. Upon saturation the user may remove my device by the pull string and insert another for furtheruse;

My device is primarily created for use by women during menstruation periods.

The lips and tissues of the vagina are most sensitive membranes, but they are not irritated by the easy and quick insertion of my device because of the smooth slippery and non-irritating character of the coating.

My coating upon disintegration will not sear the tissues of the vagina, or cause any irritation.

My coating being made of materials having soothing and cooling qualities will upon disintegration increase the comfort of the user by a soothing effect on the tissuesof the vagina.

My inner member is so stitched that all of the long cotton fibers are held. This prevents fibers from falling off and remaining in the vagina. When my device is withdrawn it is entirely removed, thus' insuring a perfect hygienic condition.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A tampon comprising a plurality of long absorbent cotton fibers cut to form a flat, thin oblong piece, stitching contacting said fibers to hold them in association, said oblong compressed and rolled to form a cylinder, said cylinder having a rounded front end, a thin coating of slick, slippery and soothing material adhering, before use, to the outer surfaces of said cylinder, including the rounded front end, said coating facilitating entry of the tampon into the vagina of the user, said thin coating adapted to promptly dissolve upon contact with the heat and moisture of the body of the user so as to substantially immediately expose the cylinder to the moisture of the body, causing said cylinder to unroll and expand to return to its original fiat, oblong shape, said oblong formed to occupy substantially all of the vagina and short of the cervex, said stitching continuing past said fibers to form a pull string for the removal of the tampon. 

